Colleen Schneider signs with Bellator for flyweight debut

Schneider, 34, is the girlfriend of UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett and has fought the bulk of her career in the women’s bantamweight division. But she is expected to make her promotional debut in the flyweight division, where she competed three years go in the India-based SFL and won a title before trying her hand a weight division above.

“All the fights I’ve done at 125, I’ve finished my opponents,” Schneider (10-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) told MMAjunkie. “I’m decently tall for a 135-er, but I’m very tall for a 125-er, and I know how to use my reach well. I feel decently strong at 135 and super strong at 125. I think I’m going to be really hard to deal with.”

Schneider’s debut is expected to take place at Bellator 170, which takes place Jan. 21 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and airs live on Spike. Her opponent is to be announced.

After a stint with the all-female Invicta FC, she welcomes the prospect of fighting under a new umbrella.

“They have a bit more of that pomp and circumstance, in a good way,” Schneider said. “When you watch a fight, you’re at a big event and you’re pumped up for it. I think they’re really trying to build the women’s flyweight division and bring a belt to that division.”

So far, Bellator President Scott Coker has yet to announce a specific timeline for title plans int the women’s flyweight division, though he’s said the promotion will crown a champ by year’s end. Over the past year, the promotion has pushed several acquisitions, including Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Anastasia Yankova and Lena Ovchynnikova, who recently outpointed Karla Benitez at this past Friday’s Bellator 164.

On March 19, 2011, 23-year-old Jon Jones brutalized UFC light heavyweight champion “Shogun” Rua to become the youngest titleholder in UFC history. But for Jones, it was only the start of a wild ride that at times spun out of control.